Because we all tend to associate with those like us, we will also tend to select media sources that give opinions with which we agree. When we allow ourselves to be discipled by these external forces by consuming too much of their content, we necessarily disallow the discipline influence of the Holy Spirit.
When those media sources are primarily political, we may overlay our political philosophies onto our theological beliefs. We may confuse patriotism with allegiance to God, or allegiance to a political party with allegiance to God. We might enmesh our theological and political beliefs and then claim that those who do not believe politically with us are theological heretics: “You cannot be a Christian and vote for <so-and-so>”. This phenomenon leads to divisive and unquestionably un-Christian political tests of purity in the church.
Because we can craft and individualize our world to the point where we listen to only one political viewpoint, there are millions of Christians in the United States who are more discipled by Fox News, Progressive Radio, CNN, or others than they are the Holy Spirit. They listen so intently and so often to their selected media outlets that, over time, they confuse their biblical beliefs with their political beliefs. Some post memes on Facebook or send messages on Twitter that are angry, cold, and decidedly not Christ-like.
Sometimes, they develop such strong connections between their political philosophy and Christian theology that they wonder, honestly, if any Christian who loves God could ever be a member of the other party or vote for a particular candidate.
The Gospel vs. Political Parties
What they fail to realize is that the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn’t neatly fit into either party’s platforms. In addition, Christian theology supports aspects of both parties’ platforms, or better yet, both parties have it partially right and partially wrong.
I think this quote sums up my belief on the integration of politics and theology:
Jesus is the light of the nations…He is the one great hope of the peoples of the world. We do not place our hopes in the nations themselves or in their political, economic or social kingdoms or constructions, however well wrought, however hopeful…Our hope is entirely King Jesus…[1]
To the extent we get “caught up” in the tone and emotion of our politics, we risk equating our civic and political beliefs with our theological beliefs. When we do this, we give Satan a quiet foothold to divide us based on our political beliefs. Can any reasonable Christian in America today deny that politics has divided our church into opposing factions?
Choose Unity in the Body over Politics
Disciples of Jesus Christ should guard against this type of division. When necessary, we should engage this principle: Being faithful to your political beliefs is not as important as being faithful to God.
Voicing your political beliefs should always take a back seat to maintaining unity in the body of Christ and representing Christ in the marketplace as you maintain your covenantal stewardship relationship with God.
[1] Frederick Dale Bruner. Matthew: Volume 1. The Christbook; Matthew 1-12. (Waco, TX: Word Press, 1987), 125.
